The impact of coronavirus on the commercial property market has the potential to be wide-ranging for landlords and tenants alike.
For tenants, being unable to pay rent and facing eviction could be the death-knell for their businesses, while landlords face losing rent while still having to meet the demands of their bank.
In response to these concerns, the Government has confirmed that commercial tenants that are unable to pay their rent due to disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic will not face eviction.
The Government is enforcing a three-month moratorium on evictions and debt enforcement for commercial leases in the emergency Coronavirus Bill, which will ensure that no business will be forced out of their premises if they miss a payment in the next three months.
Tenants will still be liable for the rent due in arrears after this period and the Government has said it is actively monitoring the impact on commercial landlords’ cash flow to ensure their operations are not put at risk.
Many commercial landlords and tenants are already in discussions about their rents, but it is important that they take proper legal advice before coming to an agreement.
Our expert commercial property lawyers are on-hand to advise you on the best course of action, whether you are a landlord or a tenant.
Contact us now for advice on your specific circumstances.
Meet the team
Christina currently works on legal disputes within our Litigation Team.
Although originally getting her BA in Philosophy from York, Christina completed her LPC in London, taking an elective on ‘Advanced Commercial Litigation.’
Before joining Carter Lemon Camerons LLP, she worked as a Product Expert for a leading legal AI company, driving sales and usage of their technology. Her clients varied across ten different countries.
Christina previously worked on a project entitled ‘using technology to promote gender balance within the legal profession’ and remains passionate about the subject.
In her time off, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking. She also loves exploring London’s newest restaurants and going to see shows at the theatre.
Seamus Smyth is head of litigation and arbitration. His practice is primarily commercial with an emphasis on arbitration, financial services and work for South African and Italian clients.
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His reported cases include RH Green & Silley Weir v BR (limitation period against 3rd party), de Bry v Fitzgerald (security for costs), Hartt v Newspaper Publishing (libel concerning a work by Michelangelo), Pearson v Sanders Witherspoon (valuation of loss of chance), Siebe Gorman v Pneupac (status of consent orders), Senate Electrical v NTL (liability of an employee for acquisition warranties) and Bendell v Smith & Others (a successful recovery action by a lender on a shared appreciation mortgage equity release – the only such case to go to trial).
Recently involved in enforcement of foreign arbitration awards, claims arising from the banking upheavals since 2007, a successful claim against a high street bank resulting from a banking error and a successful claim against estate administrators and their solicitors for wasting the estate funds on irresponsible litigation.
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Educated (BA, LLB, Wits) and first qualified as an attorney in South Africa, he requalified in England in 1977, took an LLM at UCL and a Diploma in International Arbitration at QM, and became an FCIArb. He is chairman of the British South African Law Association (for the second time), chairman of Michaelhouse UK Trust, chairman of Global Leadership Foundation (UK), a former President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and Trustee and President of Town Malling Cricket Club (established in 1827!). He was until 2012 a Visiting Senior Lecturer in International Commercial Arbitration at London Metropolitan University. When work and domesticity permit he plays some cricket and more golf (but – which is immediately obvious – not nearly enough).